Gareth Bale confirms desire to leave Tottenham for Real Madrid

Gareth Bale has left Tottenham's training ground for the day after telling Andre Villas-Boas he wants to join Real Madrid.

Spurs are yet to comment on the world record bid of more than £85m lodged by Real several days ago and have not wavered publicly on their stance that the player is not for sale.

In the meantime, Bale spent around five hours at the club's north London training centre on Tuesday and underwent treatment on a muscle injury, departing shortly after 2pm.

And, according to Sky sources, the 24-year-old took the opportunity while there to reiterate his desire to leave for Spain.

Villas-Boas said at the weekend he was hopeful of having Bale fit for a friendly against Monaco this Saturday, but the concern now for Tottenham supporters is whether last season's double Player of the Year will be around for the start of the new season.

One former Spurs player, Jamie Redknapp, told Sky Sports' Football Season Preview show he believes it is now inevitable Bale will leave for Madrid, saying the club "always sells at the right price."

And Real's charm offensive continued on Tuesday when Sergio Ramos joined club captain Iker Casillas and director Zinedine Zidane in talking up a move.

Real's offer is understood to be for cash despite reports suggesting former Spurs midfielder Luka Modric, now at the Bernabeu, might form part of any deal.

Watching from the sidelines are Bale's former club Southampton, who are in line to pocket 2.5% of any transfer fee.

But that pales in comparison to the 15% sell-on they are believed to have agreed at the time of his 2007 move to White Hart Lane.

Southampton waived that clause at a time when they were in financial difficulty, instead receiving around £1.5m and goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, and now stand to earn just £2m as opposed to £13m if Real sign Bale.